Read: 2 mins. What was originally planned to be an easy, two-day backpacking trip for the remainder of 2012 to Pear Lake in Sequoia National Park became one of the most challenging trips we had ever undertaken. Sequoia was going to be too cold, and we decided at the last minute to visit Sespe Hot Springs in Los Padres National Park instead. In a group of eight, three of whom were new to backpacking, the trip would forever change several of us.